Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was passed with a good
intention but it is now proving to be a bane for parents and young
students. Various private schools are openly violating the laws and
norms laid down by the Act as well as various circulars issues by the
Directorate of Education, Delhi.

What is more frustrating is the fact that there is
absolutely no transparency and fairness while selecting children for
pre nursery and nursery admissions. Various private schools are
openly engaging in money minting exercise and Delhi Government and
Central Government is not doing anything in this regard.

Even legal experts have expressed their
dissatisfaction with the present education Act of India. They believe
that the net result of the Right to Education Act is to give “Full
Leverage” to Schools, imposing “Obligations” upon the Parents
and “Abdicating” the Constitutional Duties on the part of the
State.

Nothing can describe the present situation more
aptly than the above mentioned analysis. In fact, we ourselves
analysed this position and found that education system of Delhi needs
urgent reforms.

For instance we analysed the websites of some
schools in Pitampura regions and found that they are openly violating
the norms laid down by the Directorate of Education. We analysed the
first lists issued by various schools in the region like Bal Bharti
Pitampura, Bal Bharti Rohini, APJ Pitampura, DAV Pushpanjali, Lancer
Convent, etc and none of them have mentioned the points earned by the
selected students in a single list.

These schools have simply released the first list
without any break up of points on the basis of which the list has
been issued. Now how would parents analyse whether their wards have
been excluded genuinely or deliberately from the first list.

The selection procedure has been deliberately kept
in dark and unfair so that corrupt practices can be undertaken. If
Schools like Bal Bharti, APJ, DAV, Lancer etc are neither conducting
draws in front of parents nor providing the details of points earned
by each applicant how can the fairness and transparency be ensured?

In fact, the Directorate of Education has clearly
mentioned that points have to be mentioned against each student’s
name so that transparency can be ensured.

In these circumstances, the Delhi High Court is much
justified in asking for transparency in the admission procedure among
schools in Delhi. The Delhi High Court would also be justified to
quashing the admission list already issued by various schools as that
smacks the elements of violation of various laws and regulations and
corrupt practices.

Related Updates

We have also started an online movement that is
primarily requesting the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Dikshit and Hon’ble Delhi High
Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to interfere and punish
the guilty schools their management and the corrupt individuals.

As background information about our initiative, please see the
following articles in this regard: